The Walking Dead's latest batch of season eight photos and a brand new synopsis are the calm before the storm, as tensions rise between Negan and Rick.

Four new promo photos, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly, depict Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) and his allies firming up their ranks as they prepare for all-out war in upcoming episodes. Scroll through the photos below:

In addition to Rick's allies gathering together, there's also a shot of Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) full of swagger with Lucille slung over his shoulder. If he's worried about rebellion, he's sure good at hiding it.

AMC also dropped a new synopsis on Tuesday as well: "Last year, Rick Grimes and his group of survivors were confronted with their deadliest challenge yet. With the comfort of Alexandria, they let their guard down, only to be reminded how brutal the world they live in can be. The introduction of Negan and the Saviors broke our group.

"Feeling powerless under Negan's rules and demands, Rick advocated the group play along. But seeing that Negan couldn't be reasoned with, Rick began rallying together other communities affected by the Saviors. And with the support of the Hilltop and Kingdom, they finally have enough fire power to contest the Saviors.

"This year, Rick brings 'All Out War' to Negan and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better-equipped, and ruthless — but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. The battle lines are drawn as they launch into a kinetic, action-packed offensive.

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"Up until now, survival has been the focus of Rick and our group, but it's not enough. They have to fight to take back their freedom so that they can live. So that they can rebuild. As with any battle, there will be losses. Casualties. But with Rick leading the Alexandrian forces, Maggie leading the Hilltop, and King Ezekiel leading the Kingdom — Negan and the Saviors' grip on this world may finally be coming to an end."

Despite the newly-released images teasing a cold war between the two opposing sides, Danai Gurira — who plays Michonne — has promised fans that all hell will break loose as Rick and Negan go into battle.

"We don't tend to tread the same ground twice," she explained. "It is a deeply different season premiere – deeply, deeply different and unpredictable and very, very rich in the story that's being told and powerfully acted and all of that.

"That's what's amazing about the writers of the show. You can't be prepared for it. If you thought, 'Well, I've seen this, I've seen that, so I can be prepared for what's coming next' – no, you can't. You won't be prepared."

And as if Rick didn't have enough trouble with Negan, it looks like he's also going to have to deal with Daryl (Norman Reedus) going rogue during their war with the Saviours.

"There are a couple of rogue moments in there," Norman Reedus revealed. "There's no dilly-dallying with him," he added."There's no grey area right now with him.

"He's on a mission to do one thing, and sometimes for the good of the group, you veer left a little bit, and he's still veering right. So, like I said, he's kind of going rogue a little bit in the beginning."